Illuminating means for camera range determining devices



May 2, i950 H. L. MILLS 2,505,983

ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR CAMERA RANGE DETERMINING DEVICES Filed July 1o, 1946 @ff @ff jggf.

atente May C2,

L 'la (C1. iss-am) additional holes in the range nder. My device may be purchased separately from the range finder, and may be utilized with any conventional range finder Without the trouble, delay and eX- pense of drilling the range finder, or otherwise adapting it for use with my device. At the same time, my present invention may be permanently attached to the eyepiece of a conventional range finder, and the range iinder may then be used both in daylight and in darkness without removing the device from the eyepiece.

Referring now to the drawings, my invention is illustrated in Figure 1 as being used with a conventional camera and range nder. Since the operation of such a camera and range iinder is old, it will be only brieiiy described here, and such description will be understood to be only for the purpose of illustration for it will be obvious that my present invention may be used in conjunction with various other types of cameras and range nders, or may be utilized with a range finder separate from a camera. In Figure 1, a conventional camera I is shown as comprising a casing Il, a bed I2, a collapsible bellows I3, and a lens I4. As is commonly known in the art, in order to take pictures with a, sharp definition it is necessary that the camera be properly focused, which includes positioning the lens of the camera the proper distance in front of the film. The positioning of a particular lens relative to the lm in order to obtain sharp focus varies and is a function, within predetermined limits, of the distance` of the object to be photographed from the camera. In the particular camera illustrated, the lens may be moved toward or away from the film by means of the lens board or support I5, which is capable of movement back and forth along the camera bed I2.

A conventional range iinder I5 is mounted on the side of the camera by means of the bracket mounted on the shaft 26, such shaft being iixedly connected to the operating arm 21 which is held by the spring 28 against the cam 29 eccentrically mounted on the cam shaft 3D.

Since the operation of such a coupled range finder is no part of the present invention and is thoroughly understood in the art, it will not be described in detail here, except to say that when the support l5 is moved in or out along. the

Vcamera bed I2, the cam shaft 3i) with the cam 29 is caused to be rotated by the lever 3| and the links 32. Rotation of the cam shaft 33 and the eccentrically mounted cam 29 will move the mirror 25 pivotally about its shaft. 26. Therefore, when the user looks into the eyepiece 2B he sees one image of the object'to be photographed straight through the transparent mirror 24 and the window 2|, and he also sees a second image of the object to be photographed, such second image entering the range iinder through the window 22 and being reflected into the eyepiece by means of the mirrors 24 and 25. By moving the support I5 backward or forward along the camera bed I2, the angle of the mirror may be varied until the two images are superim- 4 posed and appear as one, and when this occurs the camera I0 is properly focused.

O1 course, it will be understood that other range nders may merely provide a dial giving the distance to the object to be photographed, and that still other conventional range iinders may split the image of the object to be photographed, rather than providing two images to be superimposed one on the other.

My present invention comprises a device adapted to be secured to the eyepiece of any conventional range iinder to enable such range iinder to be used in darkness, while at the same time enabling the user to =look through the range iinder eyepiece without removing said device therefrom. As shown in the drawings, a casing 33 is provided with two oppositely disposed viewing openings 34'and 35, the opening 34 being designed to be looked into by the user, while the opening 35 is adapted to receive the projecting iiange of the eyepiece 20 of the range iinder, and the casing may be secured thereto by means of the set screw 36. Itis contemplated that bushings may be provided for the opening 35 to adapt the casing to fit the eyepiece of any conventional range nder.

Slidably mounted within the casing 33 is the movable member 31, here illustrated as comprising the top portion 31a, and side portions 31h and 3'Ic. As shown in Figure 2, an L-shaped bracket 38 is adjustably mounted within the inner chamber, such bracket being slotted at 38a to permit adjustment by means of the screws 39. The figure 4I) indicates a light source which is here illustrated as a conventional lamp mounted in the socket 38h and carried by bracket 38, although it will be understood that various other sources of light may be utilized if desired. The socket 38h is carried by the L-shaped bracket 38 near the lower (in the drawing) end thereof, and is insulated from such bracket by means of a washer 4I, except that means are provided for bringing the central terminal 40a of the lamp into contact with said bracket.

The other terminal of the lamp is adapted to touch the spring contact 42 when the lamp is in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2. The leads 43 and 44, here shown only fragmentarily, are adapted to terminate in a conventional plug (not shown) which plug may be inserted in a socket `connected across the terminals of the battery of a conventional photo iiash synchronizer unit commonly utilized with such a camera. The other end of the lead 43 is soldered,

- or otherwise electrically connected aty 43a to the casing 33, and the lead 44 is soldered, or otherwise electrically connected at 44a. to the spring contact 42, which spring contact is insulated from the casing by the insulating `washer 45. In this embodiment of my invention it is contemplated that the casing 33, the movable member 31, and the bracket 38 be made of electrically conducting material and be in electrical contact with each other so that an electrical circuit will be completed through the lamp 40 whenever the leads are plugged into the battery socket and whenever the lamp 40 is down in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2, and the lamp will glow when it is inV alignment with the eyepiece of the range finder, as shown in solid lines in Figure 2.

A condensing lens 46 is mounted in an opening in the side 31e of the movable member, and is held in the path of the light rays emanating from the lamp by the brackets 46a, the distance 'tofor'e explained, when the movable memberv carries the Vlmnp-is ini-thefpositioh lsl-'iown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the automatic switch means will allow a current to pass through the lamp and the lamp will glow, emitting light which is passed through the condensing lens and formed into substantially parallel rays which enter the range finder through the eyepiece 20.

As is more fully explained in my prior Patent No. 2,312,261, a portion of these light rays extend straight through the transparent mirror 24 and the window 2|, and by proper aiming of the camera will be projected upon the object to be photographed. Another portion of such rays will be deflected downward from the surface of the transparent mirror 24 onto the reilecting surface of the rotatable mirror 25, and will from there be projected through the window 22. By proper rotation of the mirror 25 in the manner heretofore explained, the two light spots thus projected upon the object to be photographed may be superimposed one on the other. When this is done, the camera will be in focus, and a picture may be taken by any of the well known methods of night photography.

If it is desired to use the range nder in ordinary daylight, it is merely necessary to pull the movable member 37 up to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. Such member will be frictionally held in such dotted line position by means of the detent 41, and the lamp 40 and the condensing lens 46 will be moved out of alignment with the eyepiece 23, so that an unobstructed view into the range nder is now provided through the viewing openings 34 and 35.

Another embodiment of my invention is shown in Figures 4 and 5, reference numerals being used in such figures 100 higher than are used for similar parts in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Thus in Figure 4, a casing |33 having a cover mounted by means of the screws |33a, and having oppositely disposed viewing openings |34 and |35, is shown secured by means of the set screw |36 to the eyepiece of a range finder IS. Positioned in the socket |38?) within the upper portion of such casing and out of alignment with said eyepiece is the lamp |40, connection being made between the center terminal of said lamp and the lead |43 by means of the stud |4311, such stud being insulated from the casing by the insulating washer |4|, and connection being made from the lead |43 to one terminal of a toggle switch |43b. Connection is made between one of the power sup-ply leads or cords |43c and the toggle switch, and between the other terminal of said lamp and cord lead |44 by means of the socket |3811 and the stud |44a. The L-shaped bracket |38 is mounted on the casing by means of such studs |43a and |44a, and near its right hand end below the lamp said bracketholds the angeben/entre ailiswiteirfmeaes in the cord or unit (not shown here). When this has been done, the lamp will provide rays of light which are arranged substantially parallel by the condensing lens |46 and reflected by the mirror |6| into the eyepiece of the range finder |I6, and night focusing may be accomplished in the same manner as described in connection with the first embodiment of my invention.

Figure 6 illustrates another modified form of my invention, in which similar parts are designalted by reference numerals 200 higher than those used in Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment of my invention, a casing 233, having a. cover secured thereon by means of screws 233a.. is mounted on the eyepiece of a range lnder 2|6t in the manner heretofore described, and since the members contained in the upper half of said casing are similar in structure and operation to the members shown in the upper half of the casing in Figure 5, they will not be further described.

In this modication of my invention, the light rays projected from the condensing lens 246 impinge upon the fixed transparent mirror 26| which is angularly mounted in alignment with said viewing openings by the brackets 26|a and 26|b, and the direction of such light rays is changed and they are reflected into the eyepiece of the range nder. Inasmuch as the mirror 26| is of the commonly known transparent or silvernecked type, it is allowed to remain in alignment with the Viewing openings and the eyepiece, and when the range nder is operated in daylight, the user simply looks into the opening 234, through the mirror 26|, and into the range nder 2|6.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of rthe invention, as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Range determining apparatus of the character described for use with a conventional range nder, including: a casing adapted to be secured to the eyepiece of said range finder, said casing having at least one viewing opening in alignment with said eyepiece and spaced therefrom; a movable member slidably mounted in said casing; releasable means for frictionally holding said movable member in at least one position in said casing; and a lamp carried by said movable member and adapted to be moved into and out of alignment with said eyepiece upon movement of said movable member.

Y 2; Range determining apparatus of the charcter described for use with a conventional range iinder, including: a casing adapted to be secured to the eyepiece of said range iinder, said casing having at least one viewing opening in alignment with said eyepiece and spaced therefrom; a movable member slidably mounted in said casing; releasable means for frictionally holding said movable member in aft least one position in said casing; a lamp carried by said movable member; a condensing lens spaced from said lamp and movable with said movable member, said lamp and condensing lens being adapted to be moved into and out of alignment with said eyepiece upon movementl of said movable member; means for varying the spacing between said lamp and condensing lens; and switch means so connected as to operate the lamp when said lamp is moved into alignment with said eyepiece.

1 HIRAM LAWRENCE MILLS.

Number Name Date 1,703,705 Beij Feb. 26, 1929 :1,918,206 Ermisch July 11, 1933 2,282,045 Fleischer May 5, 1942 l0 2,305,437 Meyers et al. Dec. 15, 1942 2,312,261 Mills Feb. 23, 1943 2,388,714 Schwarz et al Nov. 13, 1945 2,397,160 Schwarz et al Mar. 26, 1946 u FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 562,441 Germany Oct. 26, 1932 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

